News

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is appealing the local film and video sector to register in the “Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries” (hereinafter referred to as Database), in order to provide business matching opportunities for local film and video production entities including companies, associations and individuals. Film and video production entities that have not yet enrolled in the database are welcome to join. Currently, the demand for film and video production services is increasing in both the public and private sectors. Through business matching via the Database, IC hopes to provide public institutions and private enterprises information on the local cultural and creative entities regarding the need of film and video production services, facilitating the industries’ business opportunities and boosting their development. Apart from the film and video category, the Database is also open to other local entities engaged in the cultural and creative industries, such as companies, institutions, manufacturers, associations, local creative practitioners, non-local creative practitioners based in Macao, the intellectual property registration and legal consultation entities. Since the Database has been established, it has received over 400 applications from local cultural and creative companies, associations and individuals. The Database helps to understand the development of the local cultural and creative industries and facilitate communication between the government and the sector, in order to have a more comprehensive and supportive policy and development plan. The Database also stimulates business matching among enterprises and promotes the development of local cultural and creative industries. Along with a series of cultural and creative promotion events held in Macao and overseas, such as the participation in the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, Macao MIF and the consignment in the Mandarin’s House Gift Shop, the “Database for Cultural and Creative Industries” and the “Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website” are fulfilling their role of facilitating information exchange, promoting cooperation and showcasing the accomplishment of the local cultural and creative industries. Local film and video production entities interested in registering in the Database can download the application form from IC’s website (www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc) or from the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com) and submit the completed form in print, along with an electronic copy of the form and attachments, to the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12th floor A-D, Macao) during office hours. For enquiries, please contact Ms. Lau or Mr. Chong through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours or email to info.dpicc@icm.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council conducted its first ‘Supermarket price survey’ in February on 1 February for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta, Mong Há and Avenida de Venceslau de Morais in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Heritage Foundation released today its 2016 Report on the Index of Economic Freedom, rating Macao’s economy as “mostly free” for the eighth consecutive year. The SAR’s overall score of economic freedom is 70.1, well above the world and regional averages, making its economy the 37th freest among 178 economies. In the Asia-Pacific region, Macao is ranked 9th out of 42 economies, same as the previous year, just behind Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Chinese Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Based on 10 attributes, the Report assesses the degree of economic freedom of individual economies around the world. Macao receives relatively high score in attributes such as government spending, trade freedom, investment freedom, fiscal freedom and financial freedom. The Foundation’s 2016 Report says that Macao has attracted significant investment since opening up its gaming industry in 2002. Ever-growing investment in resort and entertainment projects and related infrastructure has made Macao one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. Macao largely maintains its own free-market economic structure.
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The Government is closely monitoring the latest developments relating to the mosquito-borne Zika virus and would follow closely advice from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Health Bureau has adopted necessary preparations against the risk of Zika spreading to Macao. But the Bureau said that so far no such case of the disease has been reported to local authorities. The Government’s preparation measures include: enhancing laboratory-based capability for detection of the disease; issuing guidelines to healthcare professionals; and strengthening monitoring and control efforts. Zika virus is primarily spread to humans through bites from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Symptoms of Zika infection might include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and headache. Research suggests Zika virus might cause abnormalities at birth in human infants if women contract the disease during the early stages of their pregnancy, the Bureau stated. Most cases of transmission of the virus from mosquitoes to humans were reported in countries and territories in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Columbia, Mexico and Venezuela. The Health Bureau also noted a recent Zika case reported in Taiwan. The Bureau urges travellers – in particular pregnant women – to avoid visiting the affected areas. When travelling overseas, Macao residents should protect themselves from mosquito bites. It is suggested they should wear light-coloured and long-sleeved clothing, apply insect repellent and stay in air-conditioned places or places with mosquito screens. If any symptoms of Zika infection develop after travelling aboard, please seek medical advice immediately.
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In order to further implement the policy objectives of the Macao SAR Government and uphold the “people-based” principle, as well as constantly optimizing public services and closely following the development pace of new electronic media platforms, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) launched a new version of its official website today (1 February). The new version is compatible with the browsing functions of the smartphones, in a bid to further enhance IPIM’s role as an information platform, to more effectively assist local and overseas enterprises to timely and accurately grasp economic and trade information, as well as helping them become more aware of the trends of the ever-changing markets and seize business opportunities. In recent years, IPIM has spared no efforts in disseminating trade and economic information through diverse and easily accessible channels, such as the internet, the Macao Trade and Invest Kiosk and WeChat, so that the general public and SMEs at home and abroad could learn more about IPIM’s functions and services, the development trends of the convention and exhibition industry, Macao's role as a business and trade co-operation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as the progress of the development of the “Three Centres”. In this regard, IPIM launched a new version of its website, with the same URL – www.ipim.gov.mo on 1 February 2016. Respective content is presented in Chinese (simplified and traditional Chinese characters), Portuguese and English, to provide a full range of services. With a completely new design, its layout is concise and simple, with enhanced website security, usability, consistency, accessibility and compatibility. To be in line with IPIM´s work, special focus has been put on strengthening its functions as an information platform, making it easier to obtain information through a smartphone, aiming to bring a better browsing experience both for residents and members of the business community. In the future, IPIM will further improve the contents and presentation of its website and expand more channels of communication, while keeping abreast of the constant innovation and technological progress, to better serve the local community and merchants at home and abroad.
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Published by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and produced by 100 Plus Cultural Creative Development Ltd., the thirteenth issue of C2 magazine will be launched on 3 February. The success of video production is greatly affected by the development of the Internet. It does not rely on its scale and production costs like in the old days, but by the production creativity which is closer to daily life. This edition invites two video production companies with different market positions and characteristics to discuss the development of local entertainment production industries. In the column “Feature”, C2 interviews Hin U, founder of Pride Entertainment Productions, who aims to develop his company involving all aspects of show business. He considers that the Internet is a useful tool to explore the youth market. However, he believes that traditional media is still the key for entering the mass market. Manner Production produces comedy videos which have attracted more than one hundred and forty thousand likes on their Facebook page, in only two years. Jacky and Sixtycents, founders of Manner Production, reveal that they have made a big effort to maintain its popularity, expecting to further develop their business in the international market, introducing their local brand to the world. The launching of the Cultural Industries Fund has attracted many youngsters into the industry. The new column “Opinion” invites the CEO of Macao Creations, Wilson Lam, to share his insight on the transition of the design industry in Macao. He believes that the best time to promote the culture and creative industries in Macao is now. He also encourages newcomers to treasure the existing platforms, and constantly strive to become stronger. “Extravaganza” highlights a local brand event, the “Parade through Macao, Latin City”. The President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng, believes this event helps to promote fashion design and artistic performance, building a platform for the future development of these industries. Some of the Parade participants, Regina Dance Group and LDG Dance Studio, agree that this event can provide an opportunity for exchange between local and international artists. The new column “Brand Story” introduces stories behind each local brand. This edition tells the story of local menswear brand Worker Playground, a company modelled after the American street style. Creative director of Worker Playground, Vincent Cheang, shares his experience on the building of the brand and its features. “Blogs” columnists, Joe Tang, Ho Ka Cheng, Yi-Hsin Lin, Yap Seow Choong, Ron Lam, Ashley Chong and Cheong Sio Pang give more perspectives on the development of the cultural and creative industries. C2 is a trilingual magazine (in Chinese, Portuguese and English). Readers are welcome to browse or download the magazine at www.c2magazine.mo. Starting from 2016, C2 will change to a bimonthly magazine and issue on the first Wednesday every two month. The next issue will be launched on 6 April, 2016. Besides, the email subscription function is now available. Please simply click the “subscribe” button on the right corner of our webpage and enter your email address to subscribe to our C2 magazine. For the latest updates, you may also visit the magazine’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/c2magazine.macau, or on WeChat, by clicking “add friend” and inputting “c2magazine” in the ID column. For enquiries, please email to c2magazine.macau@gmail.com.
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The Honorary Consul of Uruguay in Hong Kong, Dr. Anabella Levin-Freris, visited the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (hereafter called “Macao SAR”) and met with the Director, Ms. Ao Ieong U, on 25th January 2016. Dr. Levin-Freris informed the Macao SAR Government that, with effect from 1st February 2016, Macao SAR Passport holders and Macao SAR Travel Permit holders can enter the Oriental Republic of Uruguay as a tourist without obtaining a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days. Both parties perceive that the facilitating measures will continue to strengthen the ease of travellers and therefore to boost in the tourism, and socio-culture between the two places. At present, a total of 119 countries or territories have agreed to grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Macao SAR Passport holders, while 11 countries have agreed to grant Macao SAR Travel Permit holders visa-free access to their region.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 2.9% quarter-to-quarter to MOP793 in the fourth quarter of 2015. The average daily wage of local construction workers (MOP1,000) rose by 2.0% quarter-to-quarter, while that of non-resident construction workers (MOP668) went up by 1.1%. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP798, up by 2.8% quarter-to-quarter. With an increase in demand for workers to carry out interior finishing works of large-scale hotels in Cotai, the average daily wages of carpenters (MOP1,053), bricklayers and plasterers (MOP765) and electricians & electrical workers (MOP838) increased by 13.1%, 10.9% and 2.4% quarter-to-quarter respectively. However, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP393, down by 1.3%. After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (102.9) for the fourth quarter of 2015 increased by 1.0% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (127.3) rose by 0.7%. For the whole year of 2015, the average wage index of construction workers (100.3) increased by 6.6% year-on-year in real terms, and that of local construction workers (125.3) rose by 5.3%. As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete increased by 2.6% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP804 per cubic metre in the fourth quarter of 2015; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars decreased by 4.6% to MOP4,324 per tonne. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (131.7) in the fourth quarter of 2015 dropped slightly by 0.4% quarter-to-quarter; the average price index for 2015 (131.7) rose by 2.1% year-on-year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that new registration of motor vehicles decreased by 3.1% year-on-year to 1,873 in December 2015, of which motorcycles over 50 cc totalled 900, a single-month record high since the data were first released. For the whole year of 2015, new registration of motor vehicles decreased by 3.5% year-on-year to 19,653, with that of light private cars (7,947) falling by 11.5%. Total number of licensed motor vehicles reached 249,339 at the end of 2015, up by 3.8% year-on-year; motorcycles and light private cars accounted for 52.0% and 41.3% respectively. Traffic accident casualties totalled 455 in December, with 3 being killed. In 2015, number of traffic accidents dropped by 1.4% year-on-year to 15,804 cases, resulting in 5,306 casualties and 15 of them were killed. In December 2015, cross-border vehicle traffic totalled 448,119 trips, up by 2.5% year-on-year. Cross-border vehicle traffic for the whole year of 2015 increased by 3.9% year-on-year to 5,131,997 trips, of which vehicle traffic through the Checkpoint of Cotai (1,114,288 trips) rose by 15.2%. In December, passenger ferry movements between Macao and Mainland China and between Macao and Hong Kong decreased slightly by 0.8% year-on-year to 12,163 trips. Passenger ferry movements for the whole year of 2015 totalled 145,385 trips, up by 3.2% year-on-year, with those via the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (36,858 trips) rising by 9.1%. Commercial flight movements at the Macao International Airport totalled 4,661 in December 2015, up by 5.9% year-on-year. In 2015, commercial flight movements increased by 8.3% year-on-year to 52,182 trips; movements to and from Mainland China (38.0% of total), Thailand (12.8%) and Taiwan (23.9%) predominated, while movements to and from Japan and Vietnam rose notably by 35.0% and 25.9%. Meanwhile, helicopter flight movements between Macao and Mainland China and between Macao and Hong Kong declined by 34.3% year-on-year to 1,069 trips in December; the annual total movements (14,048 trips) dropped by 7.3% year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo decreased by 33.2% year-on-year to 16,487 tonnes in December 2015. Seaborne container throughput totalled 12,622 TEU, equivalent to 8,461 containers handled, up by 6.1% and 4.6% respectively year-on-year. For the whole year of 2015, gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo increased by 2.3% to 252,160 tonnes, of which 58.6% (147,766 tonnes) passed through Ka Ho Harbour; seaborne container throughput (149,726 TEU) and containers handled (100,927) increased by 7.3% and 4.7% respectively. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land rose substantially by 134.3% year-on-year to 3,650 tonnes in December, owing to a 157.2% surge in cargo through the Checkpoint of Cotai (3,172 tonnes). For the whole year of 2015, gross weight of containerized cargo by land decreased by 9.3% year-on-year to 26,040 tonnes, of which 78.1% (20,328 tonnes) passed through the Checkpoint of Cotai. The Macao International Airport handled 3,033 tonnes of air cargo in December 2015, down slightly by 0.7% year-on-year. For the whole year of 2015, inward air cargo (7,410 tonnes) increased by 11.1% year-on-year, while outward air cargo (16,278 tonnes) edged down by 0.4%. Taiwan remained the major origin and destination of air cargo; inward air cargo from Taiwan in 2015 (61.6% of total) increased by 24.0% year-on-year, while outward air cargo to Taiwan (43.7% of total) decreased by 1.2%. Transit air cargo (6,370 tonnes) increased by 10.7% year-on-year. At the end of 2015, number of fixed-line telephone subscribers decreased by 4.9% year-on-year to 146,138. Number of mobile telephone subscribers increased by 2.1% to 1,896,097, of which stored-value GSM card subscribers shared 64.3%. Number of internet subscribers increased by 11.0% year-on-year to 338,899. For the whole year of 2015, the cumulative duration of internet usage (1.06 billion hours) rose by 11.7% year-on-year.
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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is ready to roll out a prize-redemption game named “Macao Hunt” on WeChat in Macao from 1 – 28 February, guiding local residents and visitors to look out for the golden monkeys along four designated walking tour routes under the theme “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities”, for a chance to win electronic coupons from merchants and enter a lucky draw. The fun game is designed to enhance the charm of community tourism and encourage visitors to explore different communities and patronize local businesses, as part of the Office’s continuous efforts to promote community tourism development. Both residents and visitors can participate in the game (in Chinese only) through MGTO’s WeChat ID (“MGTOweixin”), and become eligible for entering the lucky draw for a chance to win pure gold monkey statues, iPhone6s and electronic coupons from catering merchants of "Quality Tourism Services Accreditation Scheme" (QTSAS); participants can search for golden monkeys along designated walking tour routes themed as “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities”. Once golden monkeys are spotted with the check-in step performed, participants can instantly receive more electronic coupons from QTSAS-awarded merchants who operate catering business in the community. The more golden monkeys are spotted, the more chances for participants to win the gold monkey statues and iPhone6s; participants can also increase their chances of winning the lucky-draw prizes by completing a survey or by sharing the game link with friends on WeChat and getting friends’ “click” on the link. For more information about how to play the game, please visit: http://zh.macaotourism.gov.mo/main/page.php?id=58 The four designated walking tour routes include “Footsteps into the Historic Centre”, “The Marriage of East and West in St. Anthony’s Parish”, “A Legacy of Arts and Culture” and “Bygone Days of Taipa Village”. If the activity receives positive feedback overall, MGTO will consider launching other themed games which cover various “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities” walking tour routes during other festivals. To add more fun to the "Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Monkey" on the 3rd night of Lunar New Year (10 February), MGTO will set up additional locations of golden monkeys near each spectator seating area on the day besides those along the four designated walking tour routes. For more information about Chinese New Year celebrations, please visit: http://www.macaotourism.gov.mo This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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